Burial-vault.



No. 755,986. 7 PATENTED MAR. 29, 1904. E. T. ALLEN.

BURIAL VAULT. APPLICATION FILED mm: 1a. 1903. no MODEL. 2 sums-sum 1.

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4 0 9 1 9 m A M D E T N E T A P mm L V WL TMv n B 6 8 9 5 5 7 m NAPPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

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Patented March 29, 1904:

PAT NT OFFICE.

EDWIN T. ALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

B URlAL-VAULT.

SPECIFICATION formixigpart of LettersPatent N0. 755,986, dated March 29,1904.

4 Application filed June 13, 1903. SerialNo. 161,260. (No model.)

panying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates. to burial-vaults, andhas for its object animproved case for the interment of the dead.

The object of the invention is to produce a secure strong water and airtight as well as a burglar-proof vault of sufficient size to receive.the coflin and in effect constitute a sealed monolithic structure.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the cover of the vault as seenfrom the outside. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at the line b I) ofFig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at line 00 a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal section at line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isahorizontal sectional detail of a corner. Fig. 6 is a perspective of acorner. .Fig. 7 is a detail.

of the connecting-irons at a corner. Fig. 8 is a detail of connection ofthe irons at the meeting end of side slabs. Fig. 9 is a detail showingthe joint between the cover and side. Fig. 10 is a perspective showingthe joint at meeting ends of the side slabs.

The vault is made of slab-like parts for convenience of transportation,and these are assembled and secured together at the place of use. Thereare several slab-like pieces, each of which is composed of artificialstone made on a metal mesh. The slabs are arranged to be assembled intocase form and to be secured in their assembled position by bolts or pinswhich are entirely within the slabs and are entirely covered andconcealed by a sealing of material similar to that of which the case isconstructed.

. A, B, and C, Fig. 4, indicate three blocks of blocks are made afterall parts have been assembled, excepting the cover. The spaces for theblocks A, B, and C are made in the earth before placing the bottom inposition and entered under the sides and ends as far as may seemnecessary. It is preferable that the bot tom be made in two slabs 3 and4 of unequal length, making the joint between them at one side of themiddle line across the case. The bottom slabs have ribs 24 molded alongthe bottom, two or more to each slab, Figs. 2 and 4. .These ribs are ofsubstantially the same thickness as the flanges 23, Figs. 3 and 4, whichare molded along the lower edges of both the end and side slabs and areclearly shown. The purpose of the above-mentioned ribs is to addstrength to the bottom and'to confine the grouting A, B, and C, Fig. 4.The bottom slabs 3 and 4 are made with metal embedded therein,preferably expanded metal,

Y (indicated at 5, Fig. 2,) and are sealed in posi tion by pouring ontojoints 20, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, liquid cement and then troweling down. Thesides 6 and 7, 4, are built with metal embedded therein which is of thesame more overlapping bars of iron, (shown in deand the bolt or rivet ispassed through both irons. The extreme ends of irons 6 and 7 a areturned up, as at 6 so as to prevent them loosening from the cement. Thestud-bolt 12 used in the top joint 13 is of sufficient length to passthrough irons embedded in the parts of the cover at their joints andprojects far enough for washer and nut; but the end of the bolt isentirely below the top surface of the cover. The side slabs 6 and 7,Fig. 4, are also provided at their ends with two or more overa lappingirons, (shown in detail in Fig. 7,) with lugs that project through themesh of metal, as described for middle joints, but made to connect withcorresponding irons placed in the end slabs hereinafter described. Eachof the side pieces 6 and 7 is provided at its upper edge with a rabbet 7on which the edges of the top slabs 9 and 10 rest, and over the rabbetisan overhang 6 that projects inward to register with the outer edge 9 ofthe top slab, thus forming a perfect seal when poured full of liquidcement'and troweled down. At the extreme bottom edge of the slabs 6 and7 there is a return-flange 23*, Fig. 3, on which the bottom slabs 8 andt rest, thereby preventing the weight of the coffin from breaking thebottom loose from the sides.

The end slabs 61 62 are each made in one piece, builton embedded metalof the same character as that used in the bottom and sides. There are atleast two overlapping bars of iron 15 and 16, Fig. 5, at either sideembedded in cement at such position as to just engage correspondingirons built in sides 6 and 7, thereby making the bolt or pin holes ofthe irons register to receive a binding bolt or pin. The top edge ofeach slab is arched so as to conform to the shape of covers and isprovided with a rabbet across its entire top edge of the same shape andform as that along the sides. Along the bottom edge the sides and endshave a return-flange 23, Figs. 3 and 4. The meeting corners of theseflanges are mitered.

The top slabs are preferably two in number of equal length, built archedto conform to the shape of the top edge of ends, and built on embeddedfoundation of metal of the same character as that used in the foundationof the sides and bottom. Said metal is bent to the required curve ofcover. The cover is bolted to the sides at its joint by means of astud-bolt 12, Fig. 9, which is secured as before described and is heldby a lock-nut above and below, de-

tail Figs. 8 and 9. The bolt is long enough to pass through hole 9,which is formed by notching to make one-half the hole in each top slabat joint. The bolt projects far enough through the foundation metal ofthe top slabs 9 and 10 to allow for a large-size thin washer and nut.The nut is below the finished surface of the cover as it is finallycompleted by filling the rabbet, Figs. 4: and 9, which runs across theend of each top slab, and these when the slabs are assembled form agroove 22", Figs. 1 and 4:. This groove 22, as well as the joint 17,Figs. 3 and 4C, are afterward grouted full of cement and troweled downsmooth. Screw-hooks 26 are temporarily inserted in the top and engage inholding nuts 27, that are embedded under the mesh of metal through whichthe ends of the screw hooks pass to engage the nuts. After the vault hasbeen assembled and sealed the screw-hooks are withdrawn and the holesfilled With cement.

Figs. 5, 6, and 10 of the drawings show the corners and joints in anincomplete state. In the finisned vault all the corners and joints arefilled with cement suitably molded to place, and all irons and parts ofirons used to bind the structure together are entirely covered.

What I claim is 1. In a burial-vault, in combination with side and endpieces, provided with inturned bottom flanges, and with means forsecuring the several pieces together, a foundation-slab built underneaththe bottom and projecting therethrough, substantially as described.

2. In a burial-vault, a bottom slab therefor provided with openings anda grouting below the said bottom projecting into said openings,substantially as described. I

3. In a burial-vault, the combination of slabs of artificial stone, ametal mesh incorporated in each slab, a tie-iron inserted in the slabexternal to the mesh, said tie-irons provided with lugs extendingthrough the metal mesh and arranged to overlap a corresponding lug on aplate embedded in an adjacent slab, substantially as described.

4. In a burial-vault, in combination with side and end pieces lockedtogether and provided with an inturned flange along the bottom, a bottomslab resting'on said flanges and grouting of cement arranged acrossunderneath the bottom and engaging through openings in the bottom, theopenings being filled by the cement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

EDWIN T. ALLEN.

Witnesses;

CHARLES F. BURTON, MAY E. KOTT.

